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About Eugene weekly. (Eugene, Oregon) 1993-current | View Entire Issue (April 19, 2007)
The John G. Shedd Institute for the Arts TO THE EDITOR tion of American Christian leaders traveled to Iran and for the first time in 28 years had dia- logue with Iranian leaders. Upon returning they urged the U.S. and Iranian governments immediately to engage in direct , face-to-face talks; cease using language that defines the other using “enemy” images; and promote more people-to-people exchanges, including religious leaders, members of Parliament/Congress and civil society. As people around the world celebrate this Easter, let us remember the Lord’s Prayer that teaches us to “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive them that trespass against us.” Michael T. Hinojosa Drain RECALLS A WASTE Efforts to cripple Lane County govern- ment by launching multiple recall campaigns are needlessly divisive and a huge waste of hard-earned taxpayer dollars! The recent county income-tax repeal ref- erendum effort was legitimate and achieved the immediate result of the county commis- sioners deciding to place the tax proposal on the May ballot for us all to decide. For these same referendum folks to now personalize this complex issue, demonize our hard work- ing county commissioners and initiate parti- san recall witch hunts is disappointing, highly destructive and vindictive! I have seen no mention by the media that the three repeal effort petitioners, all partisan Republican employees of Morse Brothers concrete and construction company, have been bankrolled, according to official state reports, by radical forces outside of Lane County, including strident antigovern- ment crusader Don McIntyre and his Tigard- based “Taxpayers Association of Oregon” ($2,000) and by Salem based attorney Nathan Reitman ($500). Two of the three petitioners are listed as Morse Brothers executives working in Harrisburg (Linn County) — General Manager Loren Later and Trucking Manager Bob Hooker (www.morsebrosprestress.com). Campaign activities at Morse Brothers Harrisburg facil- ities have been locally televised yet unre- ported as corporate “in-kind” donations. Each recall campaign could cost taxpay- ers $40,000-$50,000 — a combined total of nearly $150,000 — with an additional $150,000 for campaigns to fill the vacancies; that’s $300,000 of county funds that could go to arresting criminals, treating kids’ drug ad- dictions and Veterans’ services. Enough’s enough! Diana Robertson Eugene www.theshedd.org The Shedd Institute RECALLS NECESSARY The Lane County Commissioners and other tax supporters are painting a false pic- ture of the financial condition of Lane County. These beneficiaries of county money are crying around over $47 million. They are threatening to let violent prisoners out of our jails and close our parks. Sure, $47 million is a big chunk of money, but when you compare it to the 2006-2007 Lane County budget of $492.8 million, it’s less than 10 percent of the total. I encourage everyone to read the budget and see how these doomsayers are trying to unjustifiably scare us into supporting another tax. If you look at page E-10 of the budget, you will see that the county has currently set aside reserves of $102.5 million and typically passes an additional $15 to $20 million into this slush fund each year. The county is not bankrupt. We need county commissioners who are not entrenched in the county system. We need to start by clearing the board of Bobby Green, Faye Stewart and Bill Dwyer. These commis- sioners are unwilling to make the tough deci- sions necessary. Please support all recall ef- forts. Paul Cauthorn Eugene The Shedd Institute Eugene Ballet Company The Adventures of Tom Sawyer Sat-Sun, May 5-6 Hult Center Tickets: 682-5000 Dr. Tamara A. Stenshoel MD REUSE BEFORE RECYCLE Woo-wee. That was a mighty nice article about our nonprofit’s fantastic volunteers and staff! I appreciate Sarah Mazze’s work to ex- plore the impact of obsolete electronics on our environment and how NextStep Recycling has worked to educate our com- munity about the importance of passing elec- tronics on to those who do not have access to technology. There is a bill in the Oregon House that Magical Moombah! The Shedd Presents Dan Neal Saturday, April 21 Jaqua Concert Hall Gloria’s Glorious Nonsense Saturday, April 28th 10:00 am & 1:00 pm - Only $5.00! 11:15 am playshop included! Shedd Presents Swang Songs of the Celluloid Cowboys Wed, April 25 Jaqua Concert Hall The Shedd 868 High Street at Broadway Ticket Offi ce: 434-7000 Emmylou Harris Thursday, May 3 Hult Center: 682-5000 Shedd Institute Presenting Sponsor APRIL 19, 2007 5
